Stand for posters



June 7, 1927.

c. F. WALLACE- STAND FOR POSTERS Filed May 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 19 20 gig I ave W60:

Men (9. waflace LA t m @btowe June 7, 1927.

c. F. WALLACE sum) FOR POSTERS Filed May 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 am'uemtoz Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. WALLACE, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WALLACE &

TIERNAN PRODUCTS, OF BELLEVILLE,

JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW STAND FOR POSTERS.

Application filed May 4,

This invention relates particularly to display posters which are made up in flexible form so that they can be rolled for shipment or storage purposes.

Various attempts have been made to provide some sort of light simple frame for supporting such posters unrolled, in display condition, but these efforts have not been entirely successful.

The objects of this invention are to provide a supporting structure combined with the poster so as to occupy but small space when the poster is folded, capable of being quickly set up to support the poster in extended relation and whichwill be simple, light, inexpensive and satisfactory in all respects.

These objects are attained in the particular embodiment of the invention'herein dis closed by constructing the poster with edge reinforclng strips and supporting the same in extended relation by braces or uprights connected with the edge reinforcements, said braces being crossed at the back of the poster and having an extensible prop flexibly connected therewith at the point'of such cross lfarious other novel features of the invention will appear as the specification pro: ceeds.

v In the drawings accompanying and form- 'in part of this specificatiomthe invention is illustrated embodied in different practical commercial forms, but it should be under stood that the structure may be modified with respect to such disclosure without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. I

Figure 1 is a rear view of the poster un folded and set up for display.

Figure 2 is a view showing the frame folded and the poster ready to-be rolled about the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken detail of f the resilient mounting for the prop;

Figures 4 and 5 are similar details of. modifications.

Figures 6 and 7 are views-of a further modification of the spring mounting.

The body of the poster is shown made of a sheet 5 of suitable flexible material having 1525. Serial No. 27,916.

edge reinforcing strips 6,7, at the upper and lower edges of the same.

The crossed braces are designated 8 and 9 and are shown detachably connected with the upper reinforcement-strip by paper fastener cllps 10 passed throughv registering openings 11 in the edge strip and upper ends of the supports respectively.

The supports are pivotally connected at the point of crossing by a stud 12 shown in the form of a split rivet engaged over bear- 1ng washers 13,14 at its opposite ends.

The pivot stud serves an additional function in the illustration in that it is extended. through the upper end of the prop 15 and acts as a pivotal mounting for the same.

The angle at which the prop extends from the back of the supports is determined by bevehng the upper end of the prop at 16 to provide an angled bearing for flat engagement with the back of the rearmost brace, 9.

The prop is automatically extended and resilientl held at the angle determined by the beve ed upper end of the same, by spring means, here disclosed as a bowed spring 17 interposed between the two supports 8, 9 and held in this position bythe passage of'the pivot pin therethrough. The action of this spring will be best understood from Figure 3 Where it will be, seen that it exerts its force to separate the crossed braces or supports and to draw the beveled end of the prop flat against the back of the rear support, thereby retaining the braces in their crossed relation and the prop in its extended position. The pivot opening 18 in the. end of the prop is of sufficient size to permit the prop being folded down flat against the back of the rear support, as indicated in Figure 2.

To hold the poster stretched flat over the supportingframe, elastic bands are shown provided at 19 secured on the back of the supports by staples 20 and looped over the extended ends of the lower edge reinforcement. These resilient connectors hold the poster taut and by so doing, act .to brace the entire structure.

The supports. and prop may be made of light strips of wood and the Whole structure may be made quite light since the parts are poster sheet caught th-erebetween.

so interconnected and tensioned as to brace eachother. This braced construction imparts to the poster the characteristics of a light rigid panel, which can be shifted and handled as if it were a one piece unit.

The edge reinforcements may be made of half round strips secured together with the These strips when applied to the face of the sup porting braces serve to space the sheet slightly in front of such supports so that it can i about the lower ends of the braces and about the lower end of the prop to hold these parts inclosely folded relation, By a reverse set of operations, the poster can be quickly set up, the spring pivot between the braces and prop materially assisting by holding the braces in their angularly crossed relation while the upper edge of the poster is being attached to the upper end of the free brace and by automatically thrusting out the prop into extended position where it isready to support the poster as soon as it is swung to an intermediate position between the lower ends of the braces.

The formof the spring for tensioning the parts and automatically throwingthe prop into supporting position, may vary both in structure and location. Thus in Figure 4, the spring 17 is of the coiled type and is located at the back of the beveled portion of the prop, exerting .its pressureto force such beveled end forwardly into flat engagement with the back of thercar brace.

In Figure 5, the spring is shown as a rod or wire 17 of spring steel or the like embedded at its lower end in the material of the prop and having its upper end caught in the loop of the cotter pin 12 which forms the center pivot. This spring has both the effect of forcing the beveled end of the prop forwardly against the back of the rear brace and of swinging the lower portion of the.

prop out into the supportin position.

In the form of. the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the spring effect is obtained by elastic strips 17 connected between a pin 21 on the back of the rop below the pivot stud and pins 22 on tie outer sides of the crossed braces. It will be seen that the com bined ffect of these resilient connectors,

which may be elastic bands or coiled springs,-

memos is to swing the braces open and to pull the prop" rearward into a centralized supporting position with the beveled end thrust flat against the back of the rear brace. The spring means in this instance thus has the effect of holding the three members of the supporting tripod in their extended relation.

To limit the extent of this spreading action some confining means may be provided such as the cord shown at 23 connected between the three legs of the tripod. This cord does not interfere with the folding of the frame, which can be done by simply swinging the parts together into the compact bundle shown in Figure 7, and it comes into action automatically to limit the spreading tendency when the tripod elements are released from their bundled or folded condition. This last tripod structure has the ad'- vantage over the first forms described, that the natural-tendency of the spring means is to spread the legs and thus automatically set up the tripod, leaving the operator only to properly connect the poster sheet to the tops and bottoms of the crossed braces. The pivot connecting the prop and the two braces is shown in this form of the invention as a wood screw 12 extending freely through openings in the prop and rear brace into a seat in the front brace.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible poster having ed e reinforcements, braces pivotally connecte intermediate their ends, means'for detachably securing the upper ends of the crossed braces to the upper edge reinforcement of the poster, elastic bands for detachably connecting the lower edge reinforcement of the poster to the lower portions of the cross braces, a prop pivotally mounted over the rearmost brace and spring means at said pivotal connection for thrusting the prop outwardly into supporting position.

2. A flexible poster having edge reinforcements, braces pivotally connected intermediate their ends, means for detachably securing the upper ends .of the crossed braces to the upper edge reinforcement of the poster, elastic bands for detachably connecting the lower edge reinforcement of the poster to the lower portions of the cross braces, a prop pivotally mounted over the rearmost brace and spring means at saidpivotal connection for thrusting the prop outwardly into supporting position, and including a bowed spring interposed. between the-braces, the pivotal connection for the braces extending through said spring and the prop, the upper end of the prop being beveled to lie against the rear brace for positioning the prop extended at a definite angle. 1

3. A flexible poster having a reinforcement at the upper edge of the same, crossed braces connected with said edge reinforcement and elastic connections between the lower edge of the poster and the lowerportions of the crossed braces for holding the poster stretched in taut condition.

4. A flexible poster having a reinforcement at the upper edge of the same, crossed braces connected with said edge reinforce ment, elastic connections between the lower edge of the poster and the lower portions of the crossed braces for holding the poster stretched in taut condition and a foldable prop attached to the crossed braces.

5. A flexible poster, braces for supportln the same in extended relation, an incline prop havinga beveled upper end for engagement with the back of one of the braces, means for pivotally securing said prop to said brace and spring means for forcing the beveled end of the prop against the brace to automatically position the prop in angularly extended relation.

6. A flexible poster having an edge reinforcement at the upper end of the same perforated near the ends and a reinforcement at the lower edge of the poster extended be-' yond the side edges of the same, supporting strips perforated" at their upper ends, securing devices extended through the per torations in the upper edge strip and the up per ends of the supports, an inclined prop for the supports and elastic connections attached to the lower end portions of the supports and looped over the extended ends 0! the lower edge reinforcement.

YHIn combination with a flexible poster sheet, a pair of crossed braces connected at top and bottom with the poster sheet, a. prop for the braces and spring means for holding said prop in extended relation.

8. In combination with a flexible poster sheet, a pair of crossed braces connected at top and bottom with the poster sheet, a prop for the braces and spring means for holding said prop in extended relation, including resilicnt connectors between the prop and the braces.

9. In combination with a flexible poster sheet, a pair of crossed braces connected at top and bottom with the poster sheet, a prop for the braces and spring means for holding said prop in extended relation, includin resilient connectors between the prop an the braces, the upper end of the prop being pivotally connected with the braces at the point of crossing and the resilient connecttions being engaged with the prop below said pivotal connection and with the braces above such pivotal connection.

10. In combination with a flexible poster sheet, a pair of crossed braces connected at top and bottom with the poster sheet, a prop for the braces, sprin means for holding said. prop in extende relation and means for limiting the extent of separation of the crossed braces and prop.

11. In combination with a flexible poster sheet, a pair of crossed braces connected at top and bottom with the poster sheet, a prop for the braces and spring means for holding said prop in extended relation, the prop having abeveled upper end held in flat engagement with the back of the rear brace to determine the rearwardly angled relation of the prop.

12. A supporting tripod for posters comprising crossed braces pivotally connected at the point of crossing and a prop pivotally connected to the rear brace substantially at said point of crossing and spring means for automatically shifting the prop rearwardly into an angular supporting position and for retaining the braces in crossed relation.

13. A supporting tripod for posterscomprising crossed braces pivotally connected at the point of crossing and a prop pivotally connected to the rear brace substantially at said point of crossing and spring means for automatically shifting the prop rearwardly into an angular supporting position and for retaining the braces in crossed relation, the prop having its upper end beveled to lie flat against the back of the rear brace in its angularly extended relation.

14:. A supporting tripod for posters comprising crossed braces pivotally connected at the point of crossing and a prop pivotally connected to the rear brace substantially at said point of crossing and spring means for automatically shifting the prop rearwardly into an angular supporting position and for retaining the braces in crossed relation, including elastic connections extending from the back of the prop below the pivotal connection to' the outer sides of the respective braces above the pivotal connection.

15. A supporting tripod for posters comprising crossed braces pivotally connected at the point of crossing and a prop pivotally connected to the rear brace substantially at said point of crossing, spring means for automatically shifting the prop rearwardly into an angular supporting position and for retaining. the braces in crossed relation and connections between the two braces and the prop for holding them positioned in the tripod relation.

16. A flexible poster, braces" for supporting the same in extended relation, an inclined prop having a beveled upper end for engagement with the back of one of the braces and spring means for holding the beveled end of the prop against the brace to automatically position the prop in angularly extended relation.

17. In combination with a flexible poster, pivotally connected crossed braces for supporting the same in extended relation, a support for said braces and spring means for tensioning the braces and the support in the poster supporting position,

' memos 18., In combination Wifil a flexible poster, ing a beveled end engageable with one of braces for supporting the same in extended the braces co fix the ongularly extended rerelation, :1 plvoted support for said braces lation of the some m and. spring means connected between the In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set -crossed braces and the pivoted suppori; for my hand this 2nd day of Mey,1925.,

tensioning the braces and support in the poster supporting position the support Kiev CHARLES R WALLACE. 

